in London and Liverpool.
While they were O'CALLAGHAN, Marxist Committee interviewed them.
Bernie began by explaining the role of the Relatives' Action Committee, It was established nearly two years ago WA TETE the SLEEOU LEOVCEIAACE announced the abolition of political status for prisoners CREVEICE crimes" connected with the Irish liberation struggie.
"ll was formed by the prisoners" relatives, althouah invhody els wid was interested in the prisoners" welfare was welcome to come and help. So it started in a small way, and now it has DUIL UP IOto a very DrE CaRre Relatives" Action Committees all over the Six Counties•We even have one as far away as America. Our ais, first and lorenost 1s volitical status for political prisoner YE SSD WI COI auuIc CUdd political prisoners. we want withdrawal from Northern Ireland and the right of the Irish people to rule their own country.
STATUS The twa women west on to speak of the history and signiticanoe of political status. It was originally in 1972 after a hunger strike by Provisional Republicans in Bellast's Crumlin Road jail received m125S support Catholic ghettos. *They refused 1o be treated as crininals becauise there war a war of liberation going on", explained Cathy.
Political status meant that the prisoners were segregated according to heir politics. Left alone by the prison guards they TOTDICd company and sattalion staffs and elected officers to negotiate with the prison authorities The prisoners did no menial prison work and were allowed to wear thei own clotbes:
On 1 March 1976 she Labour Government abolished politicel status for all prisoners convicted of offenses after that date. Thereafter political prisoners were co betreared as criminals and the concrete cellc ar blocks, KnOwn ax "H bocks" because of the shape of the buildings, were built to incarcerate the prisoners.
Carhy explained what happened SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Pape B • Action Committee recently toured Britain and spoke at meetings arranged, in the main, by the United Troops Out Movement. The two women concerned, CATHY who comes from Twinbrook and BERNIE from the Falls Road, were interviewed on local radio in London Irish organiser for Group, and CAMPBELL from the Crimes Against Irish Women MLJIAYL next: "The first man to be sentenced under the new system Neugent in September 1976. He told them that if they wanted him to wear the prison uniform they would have to nail it to his back. 'So he was the firsl man to olankel protest. That was all he had i his cell to wear. As the mien came in they joined him in the protest — the Lovalist and Official Republicans (Loyalists have Proici. •Being trcared as criminals', said Caths, meant chat besides the ane visit per montli, one letter per month, hall hour CHETEIN day remission was sete loe third of sentenice sentence for membership of the IRA was doubled from five to tea years. *The men on the blanket have no privileges whatsoever. Kieran Neugent got one letter our afler four montas, If was to his mother and said, "Dear memorise. every couple of days.
SOLIA USUCES
The walls are, or were.
AILEAN scrape on to it to the aguin. They RUTH pieces cach.
always write to me once a monthwas Kieran Bernse SUIELS go on thi Nasing "Thes he pred ma Wash"
•except lor to slop oul joined the are over the ape of 25 'privileges the 24 women in Armagh Jal altbough different abuse,